Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leaping Into the Hodgepodge Vol 68

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge...be sure to add your link to the bottom of my post so we can all stop by and say hi. Here are my answers to this week's questions-

1. The Hodgepodge falls on the last day of the month this year, a leap year. How will you spend that extra day?

Nothing too extraordinary...I'll spend a portion of the extra day waiting on Mr. Tile Guy to touch up the grout in my bathroom shower. We put a new shower in last spring and he recommended a grout re-touch a few months down the road which is where we are now.

I'll do the usual laundry-dust-meal prep, return some library books and drop off/pick up dry cleaning and hopefully finish my book club book so I can pass it on to a neighbor. I'll also spend some time organizing the trillion or so travel docs I've accumulated so far for my Asia trip happening later this spring + our graduation travel happening in May + our post-graduation family vacay happening after that. Being your own travel agent is time consuming.

2. What has recently required a leap of faith on your part?

Parenting. My girls are young adults now and I need to trust that I've poured into them what's needed in order for them to make wise decisions. Not as easy as it sounds.

I think most healthy decisions are a delicate balance of reason and emotion best reached after you've talked all the particulars over with God. At this stage of the game I have to trust that message has been sent and received.

3. We're one week into the season of Lent...are you marking these forty days in some way? Giving something up or adding something extra to normal life? How's it going so far?

I didn't grow up with the tradition of giving something up for Lent although some years I have chosen to do just that. This year I borrowed an idea I'd seen on Kelly's Korner and I'm sending a handwritten letter or a card to someone via snail mail each day of the Lenten season. I'm writing family, the children we sponsor through World Vision, friends who may need some encouragement, and anyone else who is brought to mind. I am loving this exercise!

4. When was the last time you sat beside a fire?

We have a gas fireplace in our family room but rarely turn it on. In fact we didn't use it at all the first two years we lived here but last fall I had it inspected and we've run it a time or two. Not often because it wreaks havoc with the already too high gas bill, but once in a while on super cold days we'll flip it on. Haven't had many of those this winter either. We had an outdoor firepit built last Spring and have really enjoyed that. Here's some of my family chillaxing over the Christmas break-

I think December was the last time we sat out there but I look forward to more of that once winter wraps up.

5. Surf and turf is on the menu. Do you order as is or do you ask for just the surf (lobster), just the turf (steak) or a menu so you can select another option?

Surf and turf.

Bring it.

Is it kind of obnoxious for a 51 year old woman to say bring it?

No need to respond....I think I already know the answer.

Just to reiterate-I am way younger in my head.

6. If you could have any television show back, not in reruns but in new episodes, what program would you choose?

I asked my hubs this question and we had the same answer. The first thing that popped into my head was The Andy Griffith Show. So sweet and funny, plus the whole family could watch without anyone needing to squirm or suddenly remember they needed to check on something in the other room.

It seems like most of the comedy shows that today bill themselves as 'for the family' will eventually decide to explore super serious, often controversial issues. They start off as family fare but once they gravitate towards these topics they become too overtly p.c. and inappropriate.

You could watch Andy with your grandma or your teenager or your 7-year old and everyone felt warm and fuzzy when the credits rolled.

7. They say an elephant never forgets. These days would you say your memory is more like an elephant or a gnat?

A gnat.

A gnat that has been stomped on by a big fat giant elephant.

The dulling of my memory is my second least favorite thing about mid-life.

This is the last day of the February photo challenge and, as has become my custom with this venture, I'm breaking the rules. Today's prompt is 'something you're listening to' but I prefer Monday's prompt which was-'something you ate'.

37 comments:

I've been waiting for hodge podge this week!I agree parenting a grown up is a daily leap of faith. Mine live on opposite sides of the country so I pray for them every day and talk to them as much as I can. Skype helps too cause I can see them and the grands and know they are ok in my brain. Hey as far as the Bring it! I am much younger in my head too and I also say BRING IT! LOL! Happy Wednesday Leap Day!

Love your Lent idea. What a great thing. Who doesn't enjoy snail mail.

We have an electric fireplace, but it hasn't been cold enough here to justify the electric bill that goes along with it, I agree. My parent's wood burning fireplace was a treat to enjoy.

Bring it on, girl! :) I'm waay younger in my head too. Maybe 'cause I was a child of the 80's. Will we ever get old?

Aww. Andy Griffith. You said not in reruns so I got very technical when choosing my return show. I don't think you'd have a full cast if Andy was not in reruns. Anyway, if we could have had the spirit of the show back-when, I would have chosen the Waltons. I so wanted to be in that family!

Well, I'd go for the BANANA part of Banana bread...leave out the coconut for me. LOL And as far as being younger in your head...that, to me is what counts. Feeling young MAKES you young. I know, when my 40+ year old daughter was a teen, she told me once to "Dress my Age". Well, poop on that noise. I dress how I feel. Still do, always will...but my fashion HAS tamed a bit. rofl

I'll be spending part of the day listening to the weather report. Leap day apparently means snow. The weatherman says up to 10 inches of it! I love our fireplace but the pellet stove is on most of the time so why build a fire?

I loved your questions this week. I think I'm much younger too. Like 25. ahaha. That banana bread looks and sounds delicious. I have some bananas on my counter that need to be used. I'll be trying this recipe. Thank you so much for continuing to host this. Blessings, SusanD

Good morning! Loving the fire pit. I would love to have one of those. In southern California it is often too warm in the house for a fire, but outside you could do it every night. We have been watching re-runs of Andy Griffith on Netflix and loving it! soo cute. Bread looks scrumptious...Oh, and say "bring it" to your hearts content, I do too occasionally, and I've got 6 years on ya, haha. Have a good day!

That bread sounds awesome ... I love quick breads. Just a touch of sweetness without being too rich or too heavy. And that one sounds wonderful. I may have to go check Pinterest to find that recipe! ;-)

Funny thing, I always copy the entire line up of questions and #2 wasn't in mine. I didn't even notice. Love your answer for Lent. What a beautiful idea. Bring it! I like that you said it. The bread looks and sounds delicious.

I am way younger in my mind too. And I have that same metabolism issue. Your spring/summer travels sound fantastic and I can hardly wait to live vicariously through them! :) That coconut banana bread looks so good- I'll have to see how it turns out with my gluten free ingredients!

Oh my goodness... now I need to add to my list today "go to store and buy ingredients for this bread NOW!" Before it starts snowing again! And I LOVE your idea for Lent... Definitely may adopt that as well! Here's to many more memories around the fire pit!

What a lovely idea to write a letter each day of Lent. Letters are excellent ministry tools. You just never know loving words kindly speak to others' hearts. This is something I can quickly adapt to for any period in my life. In fact, this is one reason why I enjoy penpalling so much.

Ooo yum, your cake looks so delicious! I've been thinking about making a cake, but I just hate to because of the unneeded calories. Wouldn't it be grand if desserts didn't hang to your thighs and hips and mid-section and arms and...? Oh well, let me get my mind off that and head off to ride my bike now. Thanks for hosting!

I read your questions last night so I'd be able to quickly answer this afternoon. I checked in while eating a quick lunch to learn that you have the same answer that I would have put on 2, 5, 6 and 7.I have two boys (13 & 11) and the Andy Griffith show is on EVERY day. We all love it! I wish there was a show out now that came close to the respect, simple fun, and loving acceptance that is a part of Mayberry.Your bread looks delic. I will be trying your recipe soon.

Great Hodgepodge Joyce!! Thank you for setting the questions again this week. I don't know how you manage to come up with them week in and week out but you do a great job :)

Can I give you a heads up about a problem that is getting worse each week? I don't know if it's because I post from Wordpress and most of your participants are on Blogger, but I can't leave comments on most other people's entries because of the security they have on their blogs. Is there any way you could put a message out to your fellow Blogger bloggers to let them know that leaving comments is proving difficult to impossible for non-Blogger readers please? The problem seems to be with the "prove you are not a robot" and the characters you have to reproduce. I know it's not your fault but as you are the only person I can leave comments on can you pass the message on for me please? Thank you :))

I am so with you on #6, Joyce! I do not watch sitcoms anymore because they are disgusting. I can tolerate some "reality" shows, but I really prefer to watch Food Network. There's not a whole lot of sex going on with that show, unless you call the marriage of ingredients sexy. Well, then again, that's a matter of opinion, I would guess. LOL

JoyceMy net is acting up so cant do a post ...but I what I am doing this extra day..is getting ready for a new adventure with Bob...2) What made me take a leap of faith...beginning my adventure3. what am I doing for lent...nothing spectacular4. The last time I sat by a fire (was last spring actually toasted marshmellows) 5. SURF N TURF bring it!!! 6. as for the TV show coming back I would have to go Mickey Mouse club the original one as like Andy Griffith it was for any family member..Y because we like you7. I am like an elephant I never forget anything...JUST ask BOB!!!8. Random Thought Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.